Posts archive: T Krishnamacharya & TKV Desikachar’s Yoga Textual Studies Posts
From this, the role of senses and sense objects in causing a ground for disease becomes evident…
“From this, the role of senses and sense objects
in causing a ground for disease becomes evident.
They are chiefly responsible for creating disturbance in the mind.
Hence the value of Vairāgya insisted as an aid to help the student.
Otherwise the whole system is sure to reach a state of chaos
because of the erratic movement of vital energy all over the body.
To put it another way, disease results from excess of contact
with objects not conducive to the individual system.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 34
T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
Depending on whether the mind is in a state of Samādhi or not…
“Depending on whether the mind is in a state of Samādhi or not,
the person enjoys permanent happiness or
successive chains of unhappiness and happiness.
Those who accept nothing short of Samādhi,
freedom from the suffering of disease is realised.
After all, the root cause of disease is the disturbed mind,
when we cannot distinguish right from wrong or good from bad.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 34
T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
The mind is basically neutral……
“The mind is basically neutral.
It depends on what happens to us.”
– TKV Desikachar on Sāṃkhya and Yoga
Draṣṭṛ is one who initiates and follows what is initiated.
“Draṣṭṛ is one who initiates
and follows what is initiated.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 20
T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
A Sūtra Class began with a dedication, it had the effect of orienting…
“The original essence of the Yoga Sūtra was passed on by oral tradition. First, you learn the rhythm of the Sūtra. This was in Saṃskṛta, first learning the words or Sūtra, then the meanings. By learning to recite the Sūtra perfectly it was clear that you were earnest in wanting to learn their meanings.
The scheme would be to repeat it twice, in exactly the same tone used by the teacher. This would take many years. Thus these days it’s difficult to expect to understand the Sūtra from a book or a course.
A Sūtra Class began with a dedication. It had the effect of orienting the mind to the class and subject and could also be a dedication to a god, if accepted, to remove obstacles, or if none, not to put any i.e. Gaṇeśa.
When there is Śraddhā the person is not disappointed…
“When there is Śraddhā, the person is not
disappointed on failing to get immediate benefits.
They are sure that it is only a question of time
and so the failures on the path do not
reduce their enthusiasm or their efforts.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 20
Śraddhā is the source of motivation.
“Śraddhā is the source of motivation.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 20
TKV Desikachar Yoga Sūtra Collated Quotes Chapter One verses 1-4
“The original essence of the Yoga Sūtra
was passed on by oral tradition.
First you learn the rhythm of the Sūtra.
This was in Saṃskṛta,
first learning the words or Sūtra, then the meanings.
By learning to recite the Sūtra perfectly it was clear
that you were earnest in wanting to learn their meanings.
The scheme would be to repeat it twice,
in exactly the same tone used by the teacher.
This would take many years.
Thus these days it’s difficult to expect to
understand the Sūtra from a book or a course.”
Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali Chapter One – Samādhi Pādaḥ
“The beauty of the Sūtra is that they are only related to the mind.
Thus they stand above various religions
and can be studied and related to by
all types of persons from all types of religions.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One
Annotated through Ten Themed Sections
When we act unconsciously we go back into the past.
“When we act unconsciously
we go back into the past.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Four verse 27
What is the nature of the Dṛśya or what can be perceived…
“What is the nature of the Dṛśya or what can be perceived?
It has three qualities; it reveals, it acts, it has substance.
It has many components, the objects known and the means to know them.
They serve two roles.
When in strong association with the perceiver they produce pleasure or pain –
when this association is absent they let the perceiver visualise its own nature.
Experience of pleasure or pain is by the perceiver.
Freedom from them is also its fundamental situation.
This freedom is no different from Mukti.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 18
T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
What causes Duḥkha?
“What causes Duḥkha?
In the school of Sāṃkhya it arises from within, or from external influences,
or from extraordinary phenomena such as drought, storm, earthquake.
However, the experience of Duḥkha is not the same for everyone.
The same circumstance may not bring Duḥkha in everyone.
Hence the cause of Duḥkha is association. Association implies “two”,
that which is “associated to” and that which is the “cause of association.”
In Yoga they are known as Draṣṭṛ and Dṛśya;
that which perceives and that which is perceived.
The next three Sūtra describe them.
How these two get associated is a subject matter of great debate.
Suffice it to say that this mystery is the Lord’s will.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 17
T Krishnamacharya Yoga Sūtra Study Quotes Collected and Collated
Meditation can’t be taught, but can be learnt.
“Meditation can’t be taught,
but can be learnt.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 2
The Cakra are points of concentration for the mind.
“The Cakra are points of
concentration for the mind.”
– ‘Concerning the Cakra’ by TKV Desikachar
Without Rajas Guṇa there can be no Pariṇāma.
“Without Rajas Guṇa
there can be no Pariṇāma.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 16
The three Guṇa, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas determine whether the mind is……
“Working together with and directed by past impressions,
the three Guṇa, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas determine
whether the mind is calm, agitated or dull.”
– T Krishnamacharya commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 4
Good habits can be as enslaving as bad ones……
“Good habits can be as enslaving as bad ones
and can also lead to Duḥkha.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 15
During such a moment, the power of the source of perception……
“During such a moment, without distractions,
the power of the source of perception,
full of clarity and completeness, shines forth.”
– T Krishnamacharya commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 3
This Sūtra introduces what Patañjali calls Kriyā Yoga……
The mind acts in countless ways and all of them stem from……
“The mind acts in countless ways and all of them
stem from the power of past Karma Vāsanā.
This is why individuals differ from one another.”
– T Krishnamacharya commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 6